Stories of the Stuarts: Lucy Walter, mistress of King Charles II (http://royalcentral.co.uk/blogs/stories-of-the-stuarts-lucy-walter-mistress-of-king-charles-ii-46694)
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In this new ongoing series of articles, we will be delving in to the world of the House of Stuart, a royal dynasty who first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland in the late 14th century before eventually inheriting the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in the early 17th century. The House of Stuart reigned until 1714 when they were succeeded by the House of Hanover. As we delve further in to their world, we will be focusing on, not just the people, but the events, the places and just about everything to do with the House of Stuart. Here begins the Stories of the Stuarts.
Our first piece tells the story of Lucy Walter, one of the many mistresses of King Charles II.
Is it possible that King Charles II might have married Lucy Walter?
It's possible that Charles could have married Lucy Walter in those years of his youthful exile , anything is possible. However, nobody has come up with any documentation that it actually happened.
Nothing of that nature has survived the centuries, understandable perhaps, but Charles and Lucy's son, James the Duke of Monmouth, always averred that his parents had married and therefore he was both legitimate and the heir to the throne.
He claimed, as late as the rebellion in his name, that he had his parents' marriage lines in his possession but notably nothing was ever produced. As such a document would have placed him firmly ahead of other claimants and the hated James II, not to mention elevating him in the estimation of his supporters, it says it all that he couldn't produce viable papers when it mattered.
Do you think that Charles would have done it though? He was not really the "jolly Jack the lad" of his public image, he was willing to compromise a lot to maintain his throne but all the same, royalty and his status meant a lot to him...
Woud he even as a wild young man, in exile, wiht little hope of getting his throne, have married a girl like Lucy?